Mitchell G Blair

Practice Areas

Business, Corporate and Commercial Litigation

Appellate Proceedings

White-Collar Defense and Investigations

Securities Litigation

Real Estate Litigation

Career

Mitch Blair serves as Vice Chairman of the firm. He is a former Chair of Calfee's Litigation practice and leads the Securities Litigation practice. Mitch litigates and tries complex disputes, with special emphasis on securities class actions, shareholder derivative litigation and SEC enforcement defense.

As Vice Chairman, Mitch helps manage and support many of the Firm’s most significant clients. He oversees major projects to ensure appropriate resources are dedicated to addressing clients' needs and to provide clear communication and reporting. He also helps lead the firm’s efforts in developing new and expanded client relationships.

Mitch joined Calfee in 1982. He was elected Partner in 1990, a member of the Executive Committee in 2003, and a member of the Management Committee, 2009-2023.

Professional Memberships

Eighth District Judicial Conference, Life Member

50 Club, Member

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Past President

Great Lakes Science Center, Board Member

Great Lakes Theater, Past President of the Board of Trustees

Boy Scouts of America, Greater Cleveland Council, Past President

Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, Board Member

Leadership Cleveland, Member

National Eagle Scout Association, Member

Bluecoats, Inc., Member

Publications

Active outside of the courtroom, Mitch has addressed the following organizations on topics related to jury trial techniques and defending class actions, corporate governance and compliance:

Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Securities Law Institute

Glasser Legal Works SEC Hot Topics Institute

Annual SEC Issues Update Seminar on enforcement topics

Association of Corporate Counsel

PricewaterhouseCoopers Leadership Forum

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Ohio

Experience

Particularly successful in defending clients before juries, Mitch has won cases in federal and state courts on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants involving business disputes, including class and derivative action defense and SEC enforcement actions. Mitch has a track record of successfully representing corporations and individuals in high-stakes litigation.

Mitch is representing an Asian consumer electronics company in a shareholder derivative action, developing and implementing the defense strategies with co-counsel, interfacing with the court where this action was filed and the court to which the action was removed, and together with co-counsel, drafting, editing, and providing comments on case filings, and also providing comprehensive representation to the clients.

Mitch has extensive experience representing directors of some of the region's largest companies in shareholder derivative litigation and in defending these companies in accompanying class actions.

Mitch represented one of the nation’s largest utilities in a multi-million-dollar breach of contract dispute, achieving a settlement worth $200 million to the client.

Mitch led a trial team that obtained a multi-million-dollar judgment for an international tire company.

Education